And now the tie into education.
Sometimes, I try to explain things more than is necessary. The last few years I’ve been on a personal mission to simplify things. It doesn’t always work out, but I’m trying. I’ve tried to offer short story instructions and also long story instructions. I’ve tried keeping things to 3 main points. I’ve tried post-it systems where I limit myself to 5 words only on it. I’m trying to be as efficient as possible.
What I do know is that if I wanted to explain something, it’s best to speak in terms that people already understand. I try to make connections to previous knowledge so they can build on it. I sometimes will ask, “How would you currently do that?” so that I get a starting point. Then, I base my response from that.
From the student perspective, I know students need to be able to explain things using grade-level terms, but can they also break it down and explain it to young kids? Do they know it enough to talk about it using scientific language and also unscientific, every day, common language? I’ve always appreciated the doctors, insurance people, mechanics, professors, etc. that could either drop it down to my level or even better yet, draw it out. Everyone understands pictures. 16 Stats about Visual Content Marketing
As far as decision making goes, if we can break things down to the simplest form, it will probably make the decision easier to make. I know that I tend to make the decision based on the amount of understandable knowledge that I possess.
With that in mind, how can we remake our instructions, lectures, content to include more easy to understand verbiage? How can students present info that is both grade-level appropriate, but also able to be understood by all levels? How can we be more “in tune” with our audience to be as relevant as needed?
I found this odd, but obviously it was meant to be. In this newsletter that arrived today while writing this, it mentions some other thoughts on the same topic, by the same guy.
Never Confuse…
Education with intelligence
Knowledge and information
Understanding and memorization
Learning and studying
Ignorance and stupidity
